At a public launch event on Wednesday April 9th the board and staff of Newhampton Arts Centre are setting out their plans for NAC 2050: a long-term plan to secure the future of Wolverhampton’s arts centre for the next twenty-five years.
In its 25-year history NAC has become one of Wolverhampton’s key cultural venues. Every week there are live events in the theatre, more than twenty classes in everything from yoga and Bollywood dance to music tuition and singing.
NAC, the current occupier of a historic site on Newhampton Road that was the Municipal Grammar School for eighty years and then Valley Park School, is also home to thirty creative and cultural businesses. Long-standing recording studios Beatsabar and RML have enabled generations of local musicians to rehearse and record. Central Youth Theatre have been providing opportunities for young people to develop drama skills for decades. There are also visual artists, children’s charities and even a bespoke baby clothing manufacturer based onsite.
All who come onto site agree that NAC is looking its age. The last significant investment was in the nineteen nineties and there is a leaky roof, damp walls and many other issues common in a much-used public building. Working together the City Council and the NAC board have agreed a redevelopment strategy that will see assume ownership of the site, enabling a capital fundraising campaign to begin in earnest.
APEC Architects have been commissioned to develop a site masterplan, and have detailed plans in place for Phase One that will be publicly revealed on the 9th, following extensive user consultation.
The full programme for the evening will see presentations by APEC, the NAC board and by the CEO Trevelyan Wright covering past achievements, the urgency of the project and future plans before an invited audience of regular NAC attenders and representatives from the Council. There will be special performances from artists who have featured on the NAC stage, including Central Youth Theatre and Peter Chand.
Trevelyan Wright, CEO said:
We’ve been working on these plans for several years with APEC and site users. It’s really exciting to be able to share them finally in public and get feedback. We also have a really special announcement to make on the night which I can’t share in advance!’
More information
About Newhampton Arts Centre (NAC) Newhampton Arts Centre, located in the heart of Wolverhampton, is a hub for artistic excellence and innovation. The centre is dedicated to nurturing talent and fostering new ideas, offering a wide range of experiences from art classes and workshops to music and theatre performances. By working with both emerging talents and established artists, as well as partnering with well-known organisations, NAC presents a vibrant array of cultural events and activities.
Contact Information:
Address: Newhampton Arts Centre, Dunkley Street, Wolverhampton, WV1 4AN
Phone: 01902 572 090
Website: Newhampton Arts Centre
Registered Charity No.: 106687
VAT No.: 380 7257 84
Registered Company No.: 3340600
